UN Earthbag Shelters

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Emergency Earthbag Shelter Proposal

Emergency Earthbag Shelter Proposal November, 2008

Dr. Owen Geiger and Patti Stouter, ASLA

Many times tarps alone do not provide sufficient shelter for humanitarian relief operations,while tents may not be available or cost effective. What is often needed is a simple familyshelter solution that is easy to transport and erect, less expensive than tents and uses standardmaterials that are globally available.

The building conceptoutlined here consists of sandbag (earthbag) wallsfilled with sand or soil from

the site, and tarps for roofing. These emergencyshelters would only beslightly more expensivethan tarps by themselves,

but provide superior protection against wind,rain, heat, cold, snow,

bullets, fire, flooding,hurricanes and noise.

Above: Even partial height walls can provide shelter.

(Note: the terms sandbags and earthbags are used interchangeably to describe polypropylene or burlap bags filled with sand, soil, gravel or other material.)

Benefits of Earthbag Shelters:Properly designed and constructed earthbag structures meet Shelter Standards:www.sheltercentre.org/library/Shelter+Standards

Economic Benefits: Extremely low cost (only slightly

more than tarps alone) Reduced inventories and shorter

shipping distances: earthbags arestandard materials that are readilyavailable almost anywhere in theworld and can be purchased asneeded regionally

Left: Standard bales of sandbags.

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No special tools required , although shovels would greatly speed construction(shovels could be reused for building other shelters, fire pits, etc.)

Adaptable to local materials such as different tarp materials or dimensions

Emergency Response Benefits: Ease of transport : earthbags are light, compact and can be shipped by the pallet load Highly scalable solution : large numbers of shelter units could be shipped on little or

no advanced notice, since sandbags are typically stockpiled for emergencies bysuppliers accustomed to delivering large orders

Ease and speed of assembly : two recipients could construct a basic shelter core of two walls in about two days by following one page of visual instructions

Individual shelters can be incrementally improved and completed over time

Health Benefits: Lower stress levels due to

enhanced security andimproved privacy

Greatly enhancedcomfort and protectionagainst the elements

because of insulationvalue and thermal mass of earth, and options for roof and floor construction Above: Tarp roofs on gable walls drain well.

Adaptable layout configurations to fit local climatic conditions and site Less overheating than tents with occupation throughout the day

Social Benefits: Dignified living space : Each basic unit of 2 m by 3- 3.5 m is highly adaptable and

repairable Unskilled women, men, children

and the elderly can participate inthe construction process and helpdetermine their own living areas

Sturdier than tents so is moreeasily accepted by affectedcommunities

Recipients can modify thedesign, including add space to it,

based on family size and culturalrequirements for privacy

Separate units can each havetheir own tarp roof but sharewalls for ease of construction

Above: A unit with sleeping platforms.

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Storage can be easily incorporated into shelters with scrap pieces of wood, bamboo,or metal inserted between bags across corners to provide shelving

Above: Basic unit with storage and cooking area.

Transitional Benefits: More durable than tents : UV protected earthbags last for 1-2 years; covered with

mud, earthbags can last for many years Can become permanent shelter if desired as part of a transitional shelter strategy

(unlike tents that cannot) Other structures can be built of the same building system: staff quarters,

administrative facilities, clinics, kitchens, social spaces, storage sheds, sanitationfacilities, schools, play areas, etc., all with the same benefits as the shelters

Can be dismantled and the materials reused

Environmental Benefits Minimizes impact on local

resources (minimal use of wood

saves cutting of trees) Allows use of debris generated by shelter users including grainor food bags and shipping pallets

Above: Doubled units with doors on opposite ends have some privacy.

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Shelter Flexibility:Flexibility of design is a key aspect of building with earthbags. For example, the samematerials (earthbags and tarps) can be used for hot and cold climates. Locations and sizes of window and door openings can be adjusted for lighting, ventilation and security. Wall

heights can be easily adjustedfor climate (higher walls for hotclimates, lower walls for coldclimates), along with layout andoverall shelter sizes. Largefamilies could occupy two or more shelters. Extendedfamilies could be grouped inadjoining units. Salvagedmaterials (wood poles, doors,

windows, curtains, pallets)could be safely utilized toextend shelters that have astructurally sound core.

Above: Adjoining shelters require less work per unit.

Earthbag shelters can be joined together into buildings of culturally acceptable shapes.Sloping walls allow headroom for standing with some lower ceilings above sleeping

platforms.

Right: Double units can allow

cross-ventilation in humidtropical and subtropicalregions.

Below: Clusters of four unitswith less ventilation may bemore appropriate for drytropical or temperate regions.

Building with earthbags also lendsitself to participatory design, whichtypically leads to dwellings that better reflect cultural preferences as toappropriate layouts, orientation,cooking preferences, and enhanced

privacy and protection for women andchildren.

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Units with more cross-ventilation may beappropriate in warm areaswith very heavy rainfall.Bags can be arranged for

some screen-typeopenings. Shed roofs canmore efficiently separateentrances from stormwater runoff.

Above: Ventilated units.

Left: Breezeways can provideadditional covered space, even

before neighboring units arecomplete.

Transitional Shelter Possibilities:Emergency earthbag shelters could be incrementally upgraded to make permanent shelters.For example, four shelter units grouped together could initially serve as emergency shelter for four families, but be later upgraded to one permanent home with each living spacegreater than 3.5 sq. meters. (This meets Sphere Transitional Shelter Standards that call for 3.5 sq. meters per occupant for long-term habitation.)

Right: Linear groups of shelter units and

breezeways.

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Tents rapidly depreciate in value and in a disaster/survival situation have a lifespan of about1-2 years. It is more efficient and cost effective to invest upfront in earthbag shelters that arethen improved as part of a transitional shelter strategy.

Above: Shelters customized over time.

Shelter Options:

Earthquake- or tsunami-resistant design is possible Additional shading / shelter from precipitation can be added with wood poles to

support tarps in front of shelter Greater insulation: Roofs with insulation between 2 tarps (grass, straw, leaves,

bags of rice hulls, etc.); Floors: layers of straw, grass, etc. covered with a tarp, or volcanic gravel such as scoria or pumice covered with earth; Walls: insulationmaterial can be packed around walls and held in place with wattle and daub, scrapwood or metal, or extra tarps as available.

More durable roofing can be supported with roof poles or rafters of wood, bambooor pipe

Rope, twine or cord can facilitate attaching tarps and poles, although earthbagscould hold tarps in place

Enhanced fire resistance can be provided by earth plaster on exposed bags UV protective coatings are available for added cost Different types of stoves can be accommodated inside or outside the shelter

Features to Enhance Livability: Sunken floors in dry climates help moderate temperature extremes Pallet benches or beds resting on earthbag ledges will allow storage below Wider earthbag benches can be created with larger bag sizes or added loose soil Simple shelves or niches can be built into walls

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Tamped earth floor reduces dust: made by digging down to mineral soil, moisteningslightly and tamping repeatedly

Curtains can seal off sleeping areas Mosquito nets can be easily fastened to walls to hang at door and window openings

as needed

Barriers to Earthbag Shelter Use: Initial lack of familiarity of building with earthbags may be present, although

untrained volunteers readily take to using earthbags in emergency flood control Hard or frozen soil will limit use of earthbags unless there is a mechanical means of

providing sand or loose soil using tractors, excavators and/or trucks Shelter Standards require pre-packaging of individual shelters, along with necessary

tools, instructions and repair kits. Although pre-packaged earthbag shelters are notyet available, this requirement could be met by NGOs, sandbag suppliers or other

entities unless aid agencies agree to simply dispense earthbags and tarps on an asneed basis. For example, aid staff could distribute one 500-count bundle of sandbags(a quantity commonly available from suppliers) and one tarp to each family, and thenshare a shovel with other families

Emergency earthbag shelters do not need to meet the same standards as permanent earthbaghouses that typically use barbed wire, reinforced bond beams, etc. Simplifying the designoffers significant cost reductions as well as reduced labor and speed of construction.Earthbags alone form stable walls when built in short segments that include corners.

We welcome any feedback to improve these preliminary designs and suggestions for how toutilize them for humanitarian relief projects.

The Authors

Owen Geiger and Patti Stouter are both available for consultation, shelter design andtraining.

Dr. Owen Geiger: Ph.D. in Social and Economic Development, engineer and author, is theformer Director of Builders Without Borders and current Director of Geiger ResearchInstitute of Sustainable Building, www.grisb.org , is devoted to finding solutions to the

world's housing problems through sustainable building. We believe the answer lies ineducation - helping others help themselves. He is co-author of www.EarthbagBuilding.com.

Patti Stouter, ASLA: Licensed landscape architect who created and illustrated these shelter groupings. Currently working as a site planner and building designer for literacy andtranslation facilities worldwide with Wycliffe Associates. Author of self-help booklets aboutconstruction in hot, humid regions. [email protected].

Bibliography

Earthbag Building website, www.earthbagbuilding.com

Geiger Research Institute of Sustainable Building, www.grisb.org

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Shelter Standards, Shelter Centre, www.sheltercetre.org

Minimum Standards in Shelter, Settlement and Non-food Items, The Sphere Project,http://www.sphereproject.org/content/view/27/84/lang,English

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